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5 hours ago
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History repeated itself in such wonderful fashion for Aberdeen. In 1990, they took delivery of the Scottish Cup after a penalty shoot out victory over Celtic. Thirty five years on, in defying all odds, Aberdeen did it again. Jimmy Thelin and his class of 2025 have written themselves into Pittodrie folklore. Celtic will have to make do with a domestic double, a scenario few thought probable before a ball was kicked here. Fifty five years after denying a Celtic treble in Scottish football’s showpiece occasion, Aberdeen did it again.
This was a grim, dismal final defined by errors. Aberdeen have no cause whatsoever to care. As Dimitar Mitov saved in the shootout from Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston, Aberdeen had their moment. McGregor, Celtic’s captain, was in tears by close of play. Aberdeen’s players and fans were utterly euphoric.
They have secured a place in the Europa League playoff round and will at worst be in the Conference League, while Hibernian must enter the second qualifying round. Dundee United go to the Conference League.
Aberdeen had determined going toe-to-toe with Celtic would lead to bloodshed. Celtic lacked pace and invention. The upshot was such a grim spectacle, if one livened by a Kasper Schmeichel howler that afforded Aberdeen late parity. How significant that was to prove. Dreadful but belatedly dramatic.
Thelin will point to 19 goals scored by Celtic against his team in five previous outings as justification for his cup final approach, one aimed at suffocating the game. Thelin will identify extra-time in this final as proof a tactical plan worked. Celtic were sloppy, meaning Aberdeen were never out of the contest despite their lack of ambition. Mitov in the Aberdeen goal was barely worked.
The goal which handed Celtic a first half advantage rather summed things up. Arne Engels’s corner from the right found the head of Cameron Carter-Vickers. The American centre back’s attempt at goal was barely dangerous but flicked off the shoulder of Alfie Dorrington before bouncing in via a post. A shabby goal to typify a shabby final.
Leighton Clarkson’s free-kick for Aberdeen, five minutes after the restart, epitomised the lack of conviction from those in red. Clarkson shot tamely at Schmeichel from 20 yards. That rarest of things came next, an Aberdeen chance from open play, with Kevin Nisbet heading over the bar.
Engels hit a post as Celtic looked to press home their superiority.
It was damning in respect of Brendan Rodgers’ summer recruitment that two of those removed for the closing 25 minutes – Engels and Adam Idah – cost a combined £20m. Another big buy, Auston Trusty, spent this final among the substitutes. Celtic are entitled to ask for more bang for their buck.
An Aberdeen replacement, Shayden Morris, triggered that moment that handed Aberdeen such unlikely hope. For anyone not of a Celtic disposition, it was a quite hilarious moment of smash and grab. Dick Turpin would have been proud. Morris’s low cross should not have presented much of a problem for Schmeichel, the veteran goalkeeper instead deflecting the ball into his own net. Cue bedlam in the Aberdeen end, including to a familiar and depressing extent with fans spilling onto the Hampden track and pitch. Scottish football’s powerbrokers are so pitifully weak in regards acting on spectator behaviour that it continues to regress.
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Daizen Maeda, Scotland’s player of the year, was clean through on goal with two minutes of stoppage time played. Surely he could rise above Celtic’s bluntness? Maeda allowed Mitov to save. Rodgers, normally so calm on the touchline, was incandescent.
Aberdeen were now playing for penalties. Arguably they had been playing for penalties since kick-off. Dante Polvara’s volley, two minutes into the second period of extra-time, came closing to sending Aberdeen in front. Celtic looked unusually devoid of ideas until Jeffrey Schlupp cracked the upright from distance.
Aberdeen scored every one of their penalties. As McGregor and Johnston erred, the upset had been confirmed.
